Eucalyptus pilularis

Last updated

Blackbutt
Eucalyptus pilularis Chatswood.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. pilularis
Binomial name
Eucalyptus pilularis
Synonyms [1]

Eucalyptus pilularis, commonly known as blackbutt, [2] is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, finely fibrous greyish bark on the lower half of the trunk, smooth white, grey or cream-coloured bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and fifteen, white flowers and hemispherical or shortened spherical fruit.

Contents

Description

Eucalyptus pilularis is a tree that typically grows to a height of 70 m (230 ft) but does not form a lignotuber. It has finely fibrous, greyish brown bark on the lower half of the trunk, white to grey or cream-coloured bark above, often with insect scribbles. Young plants have stems that are more or less square in cross-section and leaves that are dull green, paler on the lower surface, sessile and mostly arranged in opposite pairs. The juvenile leaves are lance-shaped, 55–130 mm (2.2–5.1 in) long and 10–36 mm (0.39–1.42 in) wide. Adult leaves are arranged alternately, more or less the same shade of glossy green on both sides, lance-shaped or curved, 75–170 mm (3.0–6.7 in) long and 12–32 mm (0.47–1.26 in) wide, tapering to a petiole 8–22 mm (0.31–0.87 in) long. The flowers are arranged in leaf axils in groups of between seven and fifteen on a flattened, unbranched peduncle 8–20 mm (0.31–0.79 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels 2–7 mm (0.079–0.276 in) long. Mature buds are oval to club-shaped or spindle-shaped, 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) wide with a conical to beaked operculum. Flowering mainly occurs from January to April or from October to December and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, hemispherical, shortened spherical or oval capsule 5–11 mm (0.20–0.43 in) long and 7–12 mm (0.28–0.47 in) wide with four valves near rim level or below it. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus pilularis was first formally described in 1797 by James Edward Smith in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London . [7] [8] The species name (pilularis) is a Latin word meaning "a small pill", referring to the shape of the fruit. The type specimen was collected at Sydney by Surgeon White. [3]

Within the genus Eucalyptus , it lies in the subgenus Eucalyptus and the section Pseudophloius, a group united by rough but not stringy bark, large opposite juvenile and glossy green adult leaves. Their leaves have adensely reticulated pattern, and the seed is red-brown, and smooth and pyramidal in shape. [6]

A taxon once described as E. pilularis var. pyriformis has been reclassified as the species E. pyrocarpa . [6]

Similar species

Blackbutt can be confused with Sydney peppermint ( Eucalyptus piperita ) or Sydney blue gum ( E. saligna ), but can be distinguished by the strong V-shape of the branch forks, which are preferred resting places for koalas. [9]

Flower buds Eucalyptus pilularis inflorescences.jpg
Flower buds
Fruit Eucalyptus pilularis gumnuts.jpg
Fruit
Leaves Blackbutt leaves-1.jpg
Leaves

Distribution and habitat

Found in wet sclerophyll or grassy coastal forests. North from Eden on the far south coast of New South Wales up to south eastern Queensland. [5] The latitudinal range is 37.5 to 25.5 degrees south of the equator. Usually seen at low to mid altitudes, though growing at 800 metres (2,600 feet) above sea level near Wauchope, where it is a dominant species. Usually seen on coastal sandy loams, but also grows well on clays and volcanic soils. Reaches large size on drier slopes near rainforest. The rainfall range is between 900 mm and 2000 mm per year. The climate for much of the distribution range is warm and humid. The mean minimum of the coldest month is around 5 to 10 degrees C, and 24 to 32 degrees C for the hottest month mean temperature. Frosts may occur in some sites away from the coast and at higher altitude.

Associated species

Blackbutt grows with a large number of other tree types. In the higher quality forests, associate species include Sydney blue gum, tallowwood, white mahogany, grey ironbark, red mahogany, coast grey box, brush box and turpentine. In drier areas it grows with trees such as spotted gum, Angophora costata , Sydney peppermint and scribbly gum. [5]

Ecology

Blackbutt forms an important element of the canopy of several endangered communities, including blue gum high forest, Illawarra lowlands, bangalay sand forest, and grassy woodland. [9]

Timber and forestry

60-metre tall blackbutt near New England National Park Eucalyptus pilularis Middle Ridge Road - Juugawaarri.jpg
60-metre tall blackbutt near New England National Park

A significant commercial species, blackbutt is well regarded by foresters for the high quality of timber, easy regeneration and quick growth. Uses include making poles, railway sleepers, flooring, building framework, cladding, joinery, lining boards, furniture, woodchipping and decking. [10] Wood density is about 900 kg per cubic metre. The sapwood is resistant to attack by lyctus borers, the heartwood is yellowish brown to light brown. Coarse textured, fairly straight grained, common small gum veins. Hard, strong, tough but not particularly difficult to work. Slow drying of mid to good levels of durability. Blackbutt timber is used in the flooring of Parliament House, Canberra.

Significant individuals

An 85-metre tall blackbutt was felled near Bulli. [11]

Named in its honour

The towns of Blackbutt, Benarkin in Queensland and the nearby Blackbutt Range are named after the Eucalyptus pilularis. [12] [13]

There is also a nature reserve near Newcastle named Blackbutt Reserve, in New South Wales. [14] There is also the suburb of Blackbutt located in the Illawarra region on the South Coast of NSW, with the Blackbutt forest reserve being the largest natural bushland reserve in the illawarra.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Eucalyptus punctata</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus punctata, commonly known as grey gum, is a small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has smooth grey bark that is shed in patches, lance-shaped, curved or egg-shaped adult leaves flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and hemispherical or cup-shaped fruit. Its leaves are one of the favoured foods of the koala.

<i>Eucalyptus patens</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus patens, commonly known as yarri or blackbutt, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has rough bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped leaves, creamy-white flowers and spherical to oval fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus saligna</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus saligna, commonly known as the Sydney blue gum or blue gum, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, flaky bark near the base of the trunk, smooth bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, nine or eleven, white flowers and cylindrical to conical or cup-shaped fruit.

<i>Syncarpia glomulifera</i> Species of tree

Syncarpia glomulifera, commonly known as the turpentine tree, or yanderra, is a tree of the family Myrtaceae native to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia, which can reach 60 metres in height. It generally grows on heavier soils. The cream flowers appear in spring and are fused into compound flowerheads.

<i>Eucalyptus grandis</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus grandis, commonly known as the flooded gum or rose gum, is a tall tree with smooth bark, rough at the base fibrous or flaky, grey to grey-brown. At maturity, it reaches 50 metres tall, though the largest specimens can exceed 80 metres tall. It is found on coastal areas and sub-coastal ranges from Newcastle in New South Wales northwards to west of Daintree in Queensland, mainly on flat land and lower slopes, where it is the dominant tree of wet forests and on the margins of rainforests.

<i>Eucalyptus botryoides</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus botryoides, commonly known as the bangalay, bastard jarrah, woollybutt or southern mahogany, is a small to tall tree native to southeastern Australia. Reaching up to 40 metres high, it has rough bark on its trunk and branches. It is found on sandstone- or shale-based soils in open woodland, or on more sandy soils behind sand dunes. The white flowers appear in summer and autumn. It reproduces by resprouting from its woody lignotuber or epicormic buds after bushfire. E. botryoides hybridises with the Sydney blue gum in the Sydney region. The hard, durable wood has been used for panelling and flooring.

<i>Eucalyptus rubida</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus rubida, commonly known as candlebark, ribbon gum or white gum, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has smooth bark, sometimes with rough bark at the base, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and cup-shaped, hemispherical or bell-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia maculata</i> Species of plant

Corymbia maculata, commonly known as spotted gum, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has smooth, mottled bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of three, white flowers and urn-shaped or barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus tereticornis</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus tereticornis, commonly known as forest red gum, blue gum or red irongum, is a species of tree that is native to eastern Australia and southern New Guinea. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, nine or eleven, white flowers and hemispherical fruit.

<i>Corymbia intermedia</i> Species of plant

Corymbia intermedia, commonly known as pink bloodwood, is a species of medium to tall tree that is endemic to north-eastern Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and oval to barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus todtiana</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus todtiana, commonly known as coastal blackbuttpricklybark or dwutta, is a species of tree or a mallee that is endemic to the west coast of Western Australia. It has rough, fibrous and flaky bark on the trunk, smooth bark on the branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit.

<i>Angophora floribunda</i> Species of tree

Angophora floribunda, commonly known as the rough-barked apple, is a common woodland and forest tree of the family Myrtaceae native to Eastern Australia. Reaching 30 m (100 ft) high, it is a large tree with fibrous bark and cream-white flowers that appear over the Austral summer. It grows on alluvial soils on floodplains and along watercourses. Much of the land it grew on has been cleared for agriculture.

<i>Eucalyptus oreades</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus oreades, commonly known as the Blue Mountains ash, white ash or smooth-barked mountain ash, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is native to eastern Australia. It has smooth, powdery whitish bark with rough bark near the base, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus deanei</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus deanei, commonly known as mountain blue gum, round-leaved gum, or Deane's gum, is a species of large tree endemic to New South Wales. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped leaves that are paler on the lower surface, flower buds in groups of seven to eleven, white flowers and cup-shaped to bell-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus propinqua</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus propinqua, commonly known as the grey gum or small-fruited grey gum, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has smooth, mottled bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves that are paler on the lower surface, flower buds in groups of between seven and fifteen, white flowers and conical or hemispherical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus campanulata</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus campanulata, commonly known as the New England blackbutt, gum-topped peppermint or New England ash, is a tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, finely fibrous greyish bark on the trunk and larger branches, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of between eleven and fifteen, white flowers and cup-shaped to conical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus cambageana</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus cambageana, commonly known as the Dawson River blackbutt, Dawson gum or Coowarra box, is a species of tree that is endemic to Queensland, Australia. It is a medium-sized tree with hard, rough bark on the lower trunk, smooth white to cream-coloured bark above, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to funnel-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus bridgesiana</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus bridgesiana, commonly known as apple box, apple, apple gum or but-but, is a medium to large sized tree. It has rough, fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth grey bark above, glossy green, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and hemispherical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus pyrocarpa</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus pyrocarpa, commonly known as the large-fruited blackbutt, is a species of medium-sized tree that is endemic to New South Wales. It has rough bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth grey to white bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and cup-shaped, barrel-shaped or pear-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus major</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus major, commonly known as grey gum, is a species of tree that is endemic to a small area near the New South Wales - Queensland border. It has smooth greyish bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven and conical to cup-shaped fruit.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eucalyptus pilularis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 Hill, Ken. "Eucalyptus pilularis". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Eucalyptus pilularis". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  4. ↑ Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus pilularis". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 Forest Trees of Australia, D.J. Boland et al. 1992 ISBN   0-909605-57-2 page 292
  6. 1 2 3 Brooker MIH, Kleinig DA (1999). Field Guide to Eucalypts: Vol. 1, South-eastern Australia. Bloomings Books. p. 258. ISBN   1-876473-03-7.
  7. ↑ "Eucalyptus pilularis". APNI. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  8. ↑ Smith, James Edward (1797). "Botanical characters of some plant in the natural order of Myrti". Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 3: 284. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  9. 1 2 Leonard, Gary (2007) [1993]. Eucalypts of the Sydney Region: A Bushwalker's Guide. University of New South Wales Press. p. 20. ISBN   978-0-86840-862-0.
  10. ↑ "Timber Architecture - E-News Articles - World Best in Timber Design". Timber Architecture.
  11. ↑ "Adlib Internet Server 5 - Details". acms.sl.nsw.gov.au.
  12. ↑ "Blackbutt (entry 2987)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  13. ↑ "Blackbutt Range (entry 2991)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  14. ↑ "Blackbutt Reserve". City of Newcastle. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.